The Haunted Forest sounds like a fun Halloween movie. It is the first week of October and Zach (Grayson Gwaze) has taken a job at a nearby haunt run by his cousin Mark (Cedric Gegel). He is having a great time until a mysterious death. As more strange mishaps occur, Zach must decide how he is going to move on with his life.
Maybe it is the decision to release it at the beginning of the year, but the film does not have the right tone. While the plot centers around a haunt, it never feels like Halloween, or even fall. There aren’t even any decorations! This does not make for a better or worse movie, but it is odd to watch a haunted house movie that takes place in October and refuses to acknowledge Halloween.
What it does mean is The Haunted Forest cannot get away with being called a “fun Halloween movie”. If a film is centered around a holiday, then its flaws can be chalked up as concessions to a format. Director Keith Boynton has decided to go with a straight horror movie instead of a Halloween horror movie, the many missteps are more pronounced.
Zach is affected by the murders, but why is he not curious about them? Why does Mark run The Haunted Forest like a dictator and how does he have so much money? Is age of consent not a thing in the world of haunted attractions? All of these questions come up over the course of The Haunted Forest and could be waved away if it made more of an attempt to be a Halloween movie. Zach has finally found his tribe, Mark milks October for all its worth, the season brings out the strongest emotions. Even mentioning it is the largest year-round haunt in the state would work. It does not all have to make sense, but at least there would be some semblance of reason. Instead, we are left wondering about everyone’s motivations.
There is no sense of urgency up until the last ten or so minutes. This includes all deaths being off-screen (including the first one which is presented to the audience in one of the most jarring edits ever) and a surprising lack of blood for a slasher. Even once things pick up, the main character is taken out of the final confrontation. Just another odd decision in a movie overflowing with them.
The Haunted Forest is available on VOD and digital February, Friday the 13th.
